Method and platform for managing gifts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for managing establishment-linked beverage gifts or gifts between different users, which users are registered with an account on a mobile application executable on a mobile device with a display.

1 . Computer-implemented method for managing establishment-linked beverage gifts or gifts between different users, the method comprising the following steps:
 a. receiving and storing information in a central server from a first user, which first user is registered with an account on a mobile application, which application is executable on a mobile device with a display, regarding a new beverage gift or gift for a second user, which information is provided via a mobile device where the first user is logged into the mobile application via their account, which information comprises at least the following data:
 i. identification data of the first user, wherein the identification data may be a username of their account for the mobile application and/or telephone number, optionally wherein the identification data of the first user is automatically provided by the mobile application; 
 ii. identification data of the second user, wherein the identification data may be a username of their account for the mobile application and/or telephone number of the second user, which identification data of the second user is provided by the first user; 
 iii. establishment for validating the beverage gift or gift, the establishment being selected by the first user from a predetermined list of establishments from the central server; 
 iv. gift data of the beverage gift or gift comprising at least quantity, and optionally identification, of gifted refreshment units, the identification of the gifted refreshment units being selected from a predetermined refreshment list from the central server by the first user, the predetermined refreshment list being dependent on the selected establishment, and wherein it is verified that the first user has a credit of refreshment units for the selected establishment prior to the beverage gift or gift on their account on the mobile application that is at least as large as the number of refreshment units of the beverage gift or gift; 
 wherein the gift data is provided after selecting the establishment; 
   b. reducing the credit of the first user for the selected establishment by the number of gifted refreshment units;   c. after receiving the information about the beverage gift or gift for the second user, detecting from the central server the logging in of the second user into their account on the mobile application;   d. upon detection of the logging in of the second user, sending from the central server the beverage gift or gift data to the mobile device on which the second user is logged in;   e. on the basis of an order for refreshments at the establishment by the second user, by a display device on which an account is logged in that is associated with the establishment, generating an optical, machine-readable representation, preferably a QR code, which representation is displayed machine-readable for a mobile device on a display of the establishment, and which representation can be uniquely validated by a mobile device on which the account of the second user is logged in, the generated representation comprising information about the number of refreshments of the order, and the type of refreshments of the order;   f. reading in the optical representation via the mobile application on a mobile device with video capacity on which the account of the second user is logged in;   g. processing the optical representation on the mobile device on which the second user is logged in, the number of refreshment units associated with the order and/or the number of refreshments and type of refreshments being displayed on the mobile device, whereby approval is requested from the second user prior to crediting the number of refreshment units from the account of the second user to the account of the establishment;   h. after approval from the second user, communicating to the central server of the approval, wherein the credit of the second user for the selected establishment is reduced by the number of refreshment u nits of the order;   i. reporting the approval to the account of the second user and the account of the establishment, as well as updating the credit of the second user.   
     
     
         2 . Computer-implemented method according to the preceding  claim 1 , wherein the display of the establishment simultaneously with the optical representation, also further shows the number of refreshment units of the order. 
     
     
         3 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the credit of an account for an establishment is quantified on the basis of a whole number of refreshment units, and wherein the credit of the account is displayed when approving the crediting of the refreshment units of the order. 
     
     
         4 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein, when logging in to an account, the information regarding all beverage gifts or gifts linked to said account is retrieved again from the central server, preferably wherein the information is retrieved again when specifically requesting the information from said account. 
     
     
         5 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein an account associated with an establishment from the predetermined list of establishments is adapted to be linked to a digital accounting system, wherein an approved order from said account of the establishment is automatically passed on to the digital accounting system, which is further provided with the number of refreshments and the type of refreshments of the order. 
     
     
         6 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein a unique username and a unique telephone number are associated with each account, and preferably wherein a bank account number is associated with each account. 
     
     
         7 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein a user prepays their own initialised beverage gifts or gifts via a virtual account-linked credit, which credit can be provided with funds electronically. 
     
     
         8 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the approval of the second user logged in to their account does not require identity verification. 
     
     
         9 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein when selecting the establishment upon initialising a beverage gift or gift by a user, the user can search the predetermined list based on geographic location. 
     
     
         10 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein via an account associated with an establishment from the predetermined list, the predetermined refreshment list can be edited for said establishment, wherein editing comprises adding, modifying and deleting refreshments on the refreshment list, as well as adding, modifying and deleting of the price of the aforementioned refreshments. 
     
     
         11 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein a user can divide a non-validated beverage gift or gift with multiple gifted refreshments into separate beverage gifts or gifts, each comprising at least one gifted refreshment, the total the number of gifted refreshments of the divided individual beverage gifts or gifts being at most equal to the number of gifted refreshments of the non-validated beverage gift or gift to be divided. 
     
     
         12 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding a beverage gift or gift further comprises a timestamp. 
     
     
         13 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein non-validated beverage gifts or gifts received on a first account can be passed on, partially or completely, to a second account, thereby defining a new beverage gift or gift, wherein the refreshments to be transmitted and their number can be defined from the first account. 
     
     
         14 . Computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second user can be the same user.